How to grow a handlebar moustache

BY Doug Geiger

How to Grow a Handlebar Moustache

One of the most common questions we get is “how can I grow a handlebar moustache?” While a great handlebar cannot simply be grown on advice alone, we would like to offer you a few tips as you set out on your manly quest. Remember that your ability to grow a moustache will depend somewhat on genetics, and your own facial hair coverage. If you have grown a moustache before you should have some idea about whether or not a handlebar is in your future. If you haven’t attempted to grow a moustache before, take a moment to commend yourself on this most manly of pursuits. Then, sit back and wait. It will likely take you a few months of uninterrupted growth before you realize your moustache’s true potential.

A true handlebar starts in the middle

Uninterrupted simply means no trimming. As your moustache starts to grow, you will soon find that it starts to hang over your upper lip – embrace this and resist the urge to trim. A true handlebar moustache starts in the middle and all of the hairs are swept towards the edges of your lips to form the handlebars. Some growers trim the middle section of their moustache but leave the sides long to style them into handlebars. While this may generate a similar effect, it is not a true handlebar and can sometimes produce an awkward looking moustache. Instead of trimming, take the time to train your moustache.

Train your moustache

Training can come in a number of different ways. (Cue Rocky theme music and training montage.) One of the easiest ways, once your moustache gets a little length, is to comb your moustache every day. Use a comb meant for moustaches like our Kent Moustache Comb. Starting at the crease right above your upper lip, comb your moustache out towards the edges of your lips. Do one side, then the other, repeat, and do this every day. The repetitive motion will train your hairs to lie that way. You shouldn’t expect your moustache to stay that way once you’re finished combing as the hairs will be tempted to fall towards their natural laying pattern, but this repetitive motion will help you give the hairs a new laying pattern. You should also find this helps keep your moustache out of your mouth which will further help you resist the urge to trim. You can enhance the effects of this training with some of our Primary moustache wax. This will keep the hairs in place once combed and work to speed up giving the hairs a new laying pattern.

Beards and moustaches grow at different rates

If you are growing your moustache in concert with a beard, remember that despite being connected, your moustache and your beard will likely grow at different rates, and for those who have particularly dense facial hair, remember that when you are training and styling your moustache, you are training and styling your moustache, not your beard. When your moustache is long enough to style into a full handlebar, resist the temptation to include some of your beard hairs in the styling to make your moustache appear longer. According to the World Beard and Moustache Association, hairs more than two centimeters past the edge of your lips are considered part of your beard. Granted, that rule is more for competition purposes than anything else, but it’s an easy guideline to follow. Regardless, don’t get frustrated if your moustache doesn’t seem to grow as quickly as your beard. Most men’s don’t, and it doesn’t mean your moustache won’t eventually have some length.

Remember your training

Finally, once your moustache has gotten long enough to style, after taking another moment to commend yourself for making it this far - remember your training. But now, instead of just sweeping the hairs out from the center of your lip, add in a step of using the moustache comb to help curl up the ends of the moustache to begin shaping your handlebar. This can also be accomplished with a flat iron or small curling iron, but be sure not to singe your moustache – you don’t want to damage what you have spent such a long time cultivating. Continue to use our Primary wax, or for more aggressive and longer lasting styles, pick up a tin of our Secondary. If you’re wanting to try both, take advantage of our discounted “Get a Pair”. Good luck, and happy growing!

THIS ARTICLE IS PART OF CAN YOU HANDLEBAR’S ONGOING EDUCATIONAL AND LIFESTYLE BLOG, READ MORE AT THEBEARDMENTOR.COM

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Zo says...

My beard is growing in nicely, although without being trimmed for the first time in my bearded life it is a challenge to let it be unruly (for the yeard effect) BUT my mustache has very different “hair genetics”. I don’t seem to have a middle to my mustache! That is, no place where it simply parts to the left and right. What are some options for dealing with this so that I don’t leave lengthy “stragglers” at my center lip?

On May 29, 2015

Toma says...

Very helpful article! I have to say I just about did the faux pas of trimming the middle of the mustache but leave the longer ends it yes, it does look a bit awkward. This is because I couldn’t figure out if I wanted to create a handlebar mustache with my beard or not.

I have great beard tips and guides on my site http://ruggedfellowsguide.com but I have to say I plead ignorance about mustaches. In fact, I only recently bought mustache wax to experiment with. This article and site in general has really inspired and taught me more about mustache care and dominance, however. Thanks.